The Black Belt Myth

Jesse Enkamp ("The Karate Nerd") explains the Karate black belt meaning, grading systems and Japanese terminology 🇯🇵 Sensei Seth is a Karate teacher and kicking / tricking expert famous from Instagram. 💪

Learn why participants at KNX: The Karate Nerd Experience always wear pink belts 😱 and how McDojos watered down the traditional meaning of belts and titles. 🥋

Martial arts like BJJ still gave a tight grip on the belt system, but even Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is headed the same way as Taekwondo, Tang Soo Do, Kempo and even Okinawan styles of Karate and Kobudo. 👊

What do you think about belts and styles? Leave a comment and join the discussion! 👍 @SenseiSeth

☯️ BIO: Jesse Enkamp a.k.a The Karate Nerd™ is a #1 Amazon Best-Selling Author, National Team Athlete, Keynote Speaker, Entrepreneur, Carrot Cake Lover & Founder of Seishin International - The World’s Leading Karate Lifestyle Brand.

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WARNING: The advice and movements shown in this video are for informational and educational purposes only. Consult a health professional before engaging in any exercise or martial arts program.

[KARATEbyJesse]

🥋 Question: What does a black belt mean to you? 🤔 Overrated? The ”Holy Grail”? Comment below! 👇

[tonioyendis]

I was at a karate tournament and this lady was bragging to me that her husband was so good that he achieved his black-belt in one year. I was listening to her and thinking, lady, I’ve been training very hard in kyokushin for 5 years and I’m still 1st kyu (brown-belt) - those microwave McDojo belts don’t make one an expert in martial arts!

[AdobeCADman]

A black belt is a like a visual diploma; a degree of knowledge. But a real black belt is in the heart. It is what you do with that knowledge that defines a person. Learning is a form of humility. It is a lifelong journey.

[mirifried]

When I got my black belt, my sensei really emphasized that it’s a Shodan-level belt (first degree). Instead of hearing “Congratulations on your black belt, ” I heard, “Congratulations Shodan.” That really emphasized that this is the beginning of my journey, no where near the end.

[arnotiele]

I am myself a brown belt in japanese jiu jitsu. And see it like driving lessons. Black belt means you have your driving licence, it means you got the basics down. Nothing more nothing less

[MajinGaijin]

To me, black belt is simply an indicator that one is, or at least should be, proficient in the basics and core concepts. By the way, I love these casual conversation videos. I hope you do more of them!

[mikenelson]

I started training in 1972 I was 7, had to be 18 to get shodan, sat on that for 8 years, 4 years later got my 3rd, another 4 years got my yodan, after 30 years of training I became a sensei. ALL these years later I am still learning and enjoying traditional karate.

[ChiragTheCuber]

At my dojo, my sensei told me the moment i recieved my black belt that my journey begins from there.

[colinmacrae]

Daniel:
Hey, what kind of belt do you have?

Mr. Miyagi:
Canvas. J.C. Penney. $3.98. You like? [laughs]

Daniel:
No, I meant...

Mr. Miyagi:
In Okinawa, belt mean no need rope to hold up pants. [laughs; then, seriously] Daniel-san, karate here. [taps his head] Karate here. [taps his heart] Karate never here. [points to his belt] Understand?

Daniel:
I think so.

[SkanDoZ]

We have a little saying at my Dojo,
"A Black Belt isn't something you wear, it is something you become."
This is the point where the learning can really begin, yes you learn things leading up to black belt, but it opens new doors to opportunities, whether that be a better perspective on your journey or the desire to start a new one.

[MahardikaMatika]

if the whole reason of learning karate is just to get a black belt, then buying it online would be the wisest decision

[maskedfishing]

I have always been taught that black belt is a practitioner who has “mastered” the basics. Because in our style after first degree you still have up to 60 years of curriculum to learn. It is a lifetime pursuit. Thank you

[ecologiaenlacultura]

Is not common to find a person so much wise and so young. Again express my admiration and your capacity to teach.

[bulletvivace]

A friend uses the expression: "A Black-belt is a White-belt that didn't give up".
A black belt means your instructors and those holding the test thinks you're good enough to wear it. That's what all the belts mean actually, so the black is no different than the others. A stepping stone on a path of fun and sweat.

[davidnorth-martino]

To my mind, a black belt should be able to perform everything they've learned up and until that point under stress. That means everything learned is installed in "muscle memory." The black belt should have a reasonable knowledge of the history of the art, style, and school and or organization. The black belt should be able to show the basics to a new student. And should be able to stand in front of the class as a role model. A psychological change should eventually happen after the black belt ranking is achieved, including a new level of confidence and command presence that sets the black belt apart from the under ranks.

[fonz]

“A white belt is just as important as a black belt. Just cause I can swing the stick a little bit better doesn’t mean I can be arrogant about it” -Grandmaster Dieter Knuttel

[gildorian]

I received my 1st Dan Black Belt in 1987 from Sensei Enoeda (JKA), and at the time we were told that it simply meant that you were now considered a 'serious student'! that is how I still think of it to this day.

[SenseiSeth]

I had such a great time! Thanks for chatting with me my friend! Hope to meet up in person soon!

[Jusangen]

“White belt turns black through training. Black belt turns white through experience.” - Roland Crawford 5dan.

That phrase and when I heard that black belt is just the beginning, as in if you were learning a language and can now get through a conversation and manage basic phrasing with ways to address areas outside your knowledge base, have impacted me deeply.

Thanks for posting guys! Keep it up!

[DmitryRonin]

Respect from Russia!
I thought for a long time that people in the United States do not quite understand budo correctly. I thought that in america karate is something like mcdonald's. Perhaps this is due to popular culture, as well as the multitude of non-orthodox American kempo styles. But thanks to this channel, I realized that there are followers of the true spirit of Bushido in America.